MATCH REPORT: Swindon Town (2) V (1) Northampton Town

SWINDON TOWN moved up to 18th in the League One standings as they came from behind to remain three points above the relegation zone in a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Northampton Town at the County Ground. Total Sport Swindon’s Ryan Walker gives his match report.

Ryan Watson gave Northampton a surprise lead in the 26th minute after shooting low past Archie Matthew’s to score his side’s fifth goal of the year. However the Cobblers were unable to hold onto their lead as a brilliant free-kick from Scott Twine pulled Swindon level on the stroke of half-time before Brett Pitman’s headed goal in the 69th minute wrapped up three points.

An injury to JoJo Wollacott during the warm-up handed Archie Matthew’s his professional debut as Swindon manager John Sheridan was forced into a last minute re-shuffle.

Erratic play from both sides during the opening ten minutes saw little in the way of chances created as the two sets of players struggled to string passes together and build any momentum. 

However in a game that could have a massive impact on the relegation battle, managers could be excused for not committing players forward early on.

Both sides eventually began to grow into the game with Northampton looking largely the better side during the opening exchanges as Swindon invited pressure on themselves with a series of defensive errors. 

Sam Hoskins found space for himself on the right-wing but a lack of concentration when it mattered most saw him blast his cross out of play for a goal-kick. 

Tom Broadbent was presented with a half-chance to give Swindon the lead in the 18th minute after rising highest to connect with Matty Palmer’s well-placed cross but could only direct his headed effort over the bar. 

John Brady was made to use his bench earlier than he would’ve liked as Alan Sheehan picked up an injury in the 24th minute, with Fraser Horsfall brought on in his place. 

Moments later, the visitors had the ball in the back of the net as Ryan Watson was given time to dribble inside the Swindon box before firing low and hard past Matthews to give Northampton the lead and scoring just their fifth goal of 2021. 

Swindon were made to pay for their mistakes after failing to clear the ball and a good finish from Watson gave Matthew’s no chance.

Scott Twine almost responded with an instant equaliser after Payne found him in space on the edge of the box, but the 21-year-old failed to find the target from long-range.

Both teams were disappointing in their approaches as the game edged nearer towards half-time with Swindon’s plan of hoofing long-balls forward producing ill effect as the hosts went in search of an equaliser.

A lack of pace amongst Swindon’s back-line saw the Cobblers attempt numerous balls over the top of hosts defence, but a lack of quality in the final third allowed Swindon off the hook. 

Having rarely been tested, Northampton looked set to hold onto their lead as half-time approached. Twine however had other ideas as his perfectly placed free-kick into the top corner from 25-yards out beat Mitchell to pull Swindon level in stoppage time as a lacklustre first-half came to an end.

Swindon nearly had the ball in the back of the net just seconds after the restart as Garrick beat an onrushing Mitchell to pass into the path of Pitman with a last minute clearance form Horsfall denying the striker of an open goal. 

The Northampton defender almost found himself on the scoresheet when involved in goalmouth action at the other end as his shot from six-yards out was blocked with a sliding challenge by Paul Caddis to deny what looked to be a certain goal.

Deemed to have seen enough, John Sheridan made an early attacking change as Dominic Thompson was replaced by Hallam Hope. 

Mikel Miller embarrassed Swindon captain Dion Conroy with a simple nutmeg to put the visitors in a 3v2 situation in the 61st minute however the attacker lacked calmness when it mattered most and failed to find either of his teammates with his cutback pass across the face of goal. 

In a match that lacked quality, Swindon had been the better team in the second-half and eventually got their reward in the 69th minute as Pitman scored his sixth goal of the season with a strong headed effort that left Mitchell scrambling across his own goal-line but failing to get a hand to it as the hosts took the lead for the first time.

Twine had a chance to bag Swindon’s third goal just minutes after the restart with Pitman’s dummy presenting him with a chance from close-range that required a good diving save from Mitchell. 

A lively end to proceedings saw Northampton load Swindon’s box with crosses, however a combination of poor delivery and strong defending saw the Robins hold on to their lead to remain three points above the relegation zone.